Woman Attacks Topless Gauguin Painting

[kpete]

Screaming “This is evil,” a woman tried to pull Gauguin’s “Two Tahitian Women” from a gallery wall Friday and banged on the picture’s clear plastic covering, said Pamela Degotardi of New York, who was there.

“She was really pounding it with her fists,” Degotardi said. “It was like this weird surreal scene that one doesn’t expect at the National Gallery.”

Gallery spokeswoman Deborah Ziska said no damage to the 1899 painting was immediately apparent after the 4:45 p.m. incident. But she said a more thorough examination will be conducted Monday

http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/national-gallery-visitor-attacks-gauguin-painting-officials-say/2011/04/03/AFoATUXC_story.html?hpid=z2

[Taverner]

1. Dollars to donuts she's religious

Can't say that's usually atheistic behavior now...

[tavalon]

15. Maybe, maybe not

But almost for sure she's having a psychotic breakdown. I find it interesting that psychotic breakdowns more often have religious overtones than not.

[FreeState]

25. She's both - she said the painting "is very homosexual. I was trying to remove it.

http://gay.americablog.com/2011/04/was-attack-on-gauguin-painting-gay.html

Suspect Susan Burns, who turned 53 Friday, also said that the Gauguin painting “Two Tahitian Women,” which is pictured at right and valued at $80 million, is “very homosexual. I was trying to remove it. I think it should be burned,” according to a criminal complaint filed in D.C. Superior Court. “I am from the American CIA and I have a radio in my head. I am going to kill you,” added Burns, who lives in Alexandria, Virginia.

[rzemanfl]

2. I had a dyslectic moment and thought this said "topless woman

attacks."

[Countdown_3_2_1]

6. Me too. I was hoping for photo goodness...

But the ones who run around topless are generally those who should not.

[rzemanfl]

10. For some reason "Superman The Movie" was on cable this

weekend, google Margot Kidder, Playboy 1975. No tats, no bikini wax....

[Maru Kitteh]

21. Because goodness knows women who are not physically perfect should have their clothes nailed on.

Right?

We wouldn't want to make you uncomfortable. Perhaps women should submit an application and ask your permission before being allowed to be seen, you know, naked ? ?

[Countdown_3_2_1]

26. YES!

When ugly people get naked in public its nauseating!

Get naked in the privacy of your own home all you want. Otherwise cover that up.
and yes, I would like to give permission before ugly people get naked.

This isn't an issue of rights. Its an issue of good taste.
Clothing makes the man/or woman in this case.

I'm not perfect and I don't get naked in public for that reason. I just wish everyone had my good sense.

[Name removed]

28. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Countdown_3_2_1]

33. No. My picture will be found under "Mr. Studley: Gift to Women."

Ya have to face facts.
RULE OF LIFE #110: People who like to go naked in public are -always- the ones who should not.

People say to me, "Hey! Lets to to a naked protest!" I will pass. Why? Rule #110.

Its not cruelty to say, "Honey, you're gonna wanna cover that up. Look at the audience. Its a total barf-a-thon out there. think of the children you're gonna screw up for life."

I understand people will not stay perfect all their lives. Fine. just don't get naked in public and we'll be OK.

[seabeyond]

34. so, it is all about turning you on? not about growing up about naked and seeing naked as natural?nt

[Countdown_3_2_1]

36. No. No. No. Has nothing to do with turn ons. Public nudity is STUPID.

Bottom line: No one wants to see naked ugly people.

If public nudity were no big deal it would be flaunted all over. But most local govts have laws against public nudity for good reasons. No one wants to see what gravity can do, given time...lots of time...

Face the facts: Perfect people never get naked in public. Never ever. We all wish they would but they won't. And the ones who do show up to naked protests and such, are the ones local laws were made for.

its not an issue of turn ons or free speech. Its simple decency.

So please, as a public service to your fellow humans...DON'T get naked in public. Thank you.

[seabeyond]

42. of course you are right. and at least, honest

but, whenever a naked woman is involved we are continually lectured on what prudes, and it is nature, natural.... get over it.

reality is, only some are allowed naked and it is for the entertainment of others. if it was a get over it thing, than any naked is fine. and naked would truly not be a big deal. but it is an immature thing... oh yea, boobies, boobies. lookie, see, boobies. those people make as big a deal of nudity as this woman.

[blaze]

37. Wait.... what???

Reading thru the thread.... do you think the women painted here are not attractive? Should not have been painted?

Or maybe I'm missing your point? :shrug:

[Countdown_3_2_1]

40. No. I'm not talking about the painting

People who opt for public nudity are usually the ones no one wants to see naked.

and then the conversation took a whole weird turn. but thats karma...

[uppityperson]

43. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

bless your little heart

[Countdown_3_2_1]

44. When gravity makes beauty sag to your knees, I pretty much draw the line.

eye of the beholder or no.
besides, there's kids out there.

[Maru Kitteh]

45. Most people who are more than 1/8" deep will easily ascertain that hateful and/or prudish attitudes

are more likely to cause a child harm than the sight of a sagging scrotum.

[Countdown_3_2_1]

46. Most people don't force public nudity on other people's children.

This isn't some obscure right here. Its common decency.

[Maru Kitteh]

47. you mean like this?

[Countdown_3_2_1]

51. NO. I'm talking about nude protests.

please catch up on the conversation. this wasn't about art.

[Warren DeMontague]

52. You take your children to nude protests?

Why?

[Warren DeMontague]

50. Please! Think of the children!

Or better yet, if you're going to take em to the nude beach, don't do it in Mississippi.

[Brickbat]

3. This one was attacked in 1976. It's now in Omaha; I don't know if it was attacked there.

[CTyankee]

7. Is this pre-Raphaelite? Who did it? Leighton? Rossetti?

I love that period in art...fascinating...

[Brickbat]

11. Bouguereau.

He actually was a big fan of Raphael himself. Very much a traditional classicist who was huge in his day, but not widely known now.

[CTyankee]

16. Oh yeah, Bouguereau! Big in the pre-Raphaelite School!

That was some decorative art! Really pretty stuff! I absolutely LOVE to get into that period because it is so LUSH and gorgeous.

[Rage for Order]

30. Wow.

Women even shaved their pubes back then. Who knew?

[11 Bravo]

4. If we elect a Repug president, she could be the next Attorney General.

[leveymg]

5. Now, this topless specimen is truly EVIL . . .

[CTyankee]

8. whut?

[rzemanfl]

14. Just stupid, only porn actresses wear ties without shirts. n/t

[RC]

9. Whatr topless? Looks like nice tops to me.

The paintings are one hundred and 12 years old. What part of Art doesn't she understand?
And if she is religious, why does she hate art that is representative of her Gods handy work so? I wonder if she knows about the Sistine Chapel?

[Lucinda]

12. More from a smoking gun link in the comments:

"...Suspect Susan Burns, who turned 53 Friday, also said that the Gauguin painting “Two Tahitian Women,” which is pictured at right and valued at $80 million, is “very homosexual. I was trying to remove it. I think it should be burned,” according to a criminal complaint filed in D.C. Superior Court. “I am from the American CIA and I have a radio in my head. I am going to kill you,” added Burns, who lives in Alexandria, Virginia..."
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/documents/bizarre/gauguin-attacker-angered-very-homosexual-art-453091

Photo:
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/buster/face-behind-name/susan-burns-no-fan-paul-gauguin-854307

[jberryhill]

18. I wish the CIA would quit putting radios in people's heads /nt

[Lucinda]

24. I was wondering if maybe she was one of Lee Mercer's associates

:P

[lunasun]

19. multiple issues I guess......but why wreck art?

[Lucinda]

23. I'd say the lady has some serious issues of a small piece of art

can make her want to rip it off the wall.

[Glimmer of Hope]

41. I hope she gets help for her schizophrenia. :(

[CTyankee]

13. Lots of feminist critics of Gauguin do not like his paintings of women because

of their exploitative qualities (Oceanic-ism was equally as bad to them as Orientalism).

But obviously, this woman was nuts, tho.

[Warren DeMontague]

49. And lots of people get mad when they see anything that implies human sexuality.

It's one thing that seems to set off uptight whack-a-doos across the board.

[krispos42]

17. We gots a mugshot!

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/buster/face-behind-name/susan-burns-no-fan-paul-gauguin-854307




She looks like batshit-crazy Bachmann.

[MagickMuffin]

20. OMG she's wearing makeup, what a harlot :=O

obviously makeup is an abomination :evilgrin:

[ReggieVeggie]

35. +1

was going to say the same thing

[hifiguy]

32. Nuttier than a squirrel turd

That dead, thousand-yard stare is a dead giveaway.

[MagickMuffin]

22. Cheers to Fort Worth, Texas which had the class to NOT attack a Gauguin painting

The Kimbell Art Museum had the exhibit a few years back, not one attack the paintings. As a matter of fact the security staff would not even let anyone within a few feet of the painting. I would know as I was one of the people told not to stand to close.

:applause: to Kimbell and Fort Worth for being worthy of hosting the Gauguin exhibit without a hitch.

[trumad]

27. Love Ft. Worth

Progressive in more ways that folks think.

[MagickMuffin]

29. Thanks for the positive feedback, I came here expecting a rude comment

So it was nice to see a positive response. Fort Worth still has a long way to go to achieve a true progressive status. But hey we are working on it, that is why I am a Precinct Chair.

Are you from this area?!?

We have a pretty active Democratic Party here in Tarrant County.

Thanks again for acknowledging Fort Worth, trumad :loveya: :hi:

[Forkboy]

31. Ur'gh! I've got Vermeer all down my shirt...

[marmar]

38. Teh Crazy is everywhere.......

[ReggieVeggie]

39. Nakedidity!!

It will kill us alllllll!!!!!!! Kill us alllll!!!!!!!!

[kudzu22]

48. I make all my Gauguins wear shirts